Esther Forbes (b. 1891) was a U.S. writer best known for her historical novels and biographical works published in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, especially the novel

Johnny Tremain

. Her books were popular among the reading public and received several literary honors, including the Pulitzer Prize in history in 1943 and the John Newbery Medal in 1944.

Forbes was the youngest of William Forbes and Harriet Merrifield’s five surviving children. She was born in Westboro, Massachusetts, and the family moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1898. Her father was a successful lawyer, and her mother gave talks and wrote books about Massachusetts history. Beginning in early childhood, Forbes showed an interest in both oral and written storytelling, especially stories with historical themes, including

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Citation: Henderson, A. Scott. "Esther Forbes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 June 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1581, accessed 29 March 2024.]

1581 Esther Forbes 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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